namibia mining regulations re: license renewal

here is the section regarding renewal of mining leases in Namibia, it is from their government website

draw your own conclusions


96. Applications for renewal of mining licences.

(1) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the provisions of section 91 shall apply mutatis mutandis in relation to an application for the renewal of a mining licence.

(2) An application for the renewal of a mining licence shall be made not later than 12 months before the date on which such licence will expire if it is not renewed or such
later date, but not later than such expiry date, as the Minister may on good cause shown allow.

(3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1), the Minister shall not grant an application for the renewal of a mining licence -

(a) unless the holder of such licence proves to the satisfaction of the Minister that the mineral or group of minerals to which such licence relates still exists in the mining area in such quantity that it can still be won or mined and sold or otherwise disposed of on a profitable basis;

(b) unless the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied with the proposed mining operations and expenditure to be carried out or expended during the renewal period.


(4) The Minister shall not refuse to grant an application for the
renewal of a mining licence -

(a) if the holder of such licence has complied with -

(i) the terms and conditions of such licence;

(ii) the proposed programme of mining operations,

and has expended in respect of such operations the amount required to be expended in terms of such terms and conditions;

(b) if the Minister is on reasonable grounds satisfied -

(i) with the proposed programme of mining operations or the proposed expenditure to be expended in respect of such operations;

(ii) that the person concerned has the technical and financial resources to carry on such mining operations;

(c) on the grounds thereof that such holder has contravened or failed to comply with any provision of this Act or any term and condition of such licence, unless the Minister has by notice in writing informed such holder of his or her intention to so refuse such application -

(i) setting out particulars of the contravention or failure in question;

(ii) requiring such holder to make representations to the Minister in relation to such contravention or failure or to remedy such contravention or failure on or before a date specified in such notice,

and such holder has failed to so remedy such contravention or failed to make representations.